BUILD THREAD 87 Cutlass EFI build: 9/13/23..NEW STUFF!

[mr evil]

LOL!!! I'm starting to see a potentially lucrative side business. Honestly, I'm just trying to avoid buying replacement lights so I figured I would give it a shot to spruce them up on my own.

I'm truly humbled by the responses and offers, it makes all these late nights standing outside sanding and polishing a little less boring! I'm just an average guy with a vision of a cool cutlass, if you guys think that highly of my work then I know I've done a job well done!

Whoa whoa! Now let's not get it twisted. I mean your stuff looks good and all but I just figured since your stuff is pretty much done and mine aren't, you have the paint and tape already and I don't, you know I was just figuring you do mine just this one time gratis you know? Get the good word out about your service and skills you know, and then start charging everyone else.....it's only another half dozen or so, no big thing. They're already almost at your door so what do you say?
Alright look, I'll toss you some vintage original exhaust parts from 1986. Nicely used but would look great as some 'yard art' or maybe on the garage wall. The patina on this stuff is pretty fancy and I'm sure one of a kind! Expensive to ship but you can just grab it when you bring my lights over to install...

 

[Opie Knievel]

Earlier my dad called me the Lens Crafter

I like that. I bet your dad is cool. I'll have to meet him sometime.

 

[Injectedcutty]

I like that. I bet your dad is cool. I'll have to meet him sometime.

He's a big kid! Honestly, he probably acts more childish than I do sometimes lol! He will shoot me for posting this pic, but check out the circa '90s style! The "booger" as we called the '79 Ford Explorer(yes, before the explorer was an SUV) had a 390 in it. That's actually the 1st vehicle I helped do an engine swap in when I was maybe 9 or 10 years old.

 

[Injectedcutty]

I got my passenger side headlight out yesterday after work and got it tore apart. I put all the hardware in a bowl with hot water and oxi clean which did a great job cleaning said parts up.

I then cleaned up the housing, lens, and the main brace that holds it all together. Everything looked swell after 30 years of crud was removed....

This morning I wet sanded the lens from 2000 to 5000 grit, and gave it a quick polish. It really didn't need it, but I figured why not.

As of now it's assembled and finished! Once my brother n law gets back from vacation we have to find the driver side headlight. It's been MIA and we've looked for it, but no luck yet. It's probably sitting out in the open somewhere and we are looking right past it lol!

Thanks for checking out the thread guys, hopefully I can get the rest of the lights done in the next week or so.

 

[Injectedcutty]

So yesterday I ordered a BTR spring kit for the LS heads. Luckily BTR is 35 miles south of me so they were at my door today when I got home from work! It's such a shame these pretty springs will be hidden, but that's alright.

I also made a couple stops to pick up my front marker lights from my painter's house. The cutlass is still sitting under a cover outside....crossing my fingers it might go back inside in a few weeks. My brother n law and I tore his garage apart and finally found my other headlight, whew!!! Now to clean them up, and get the marker lights prepped to match the others.

 

[Injectedcutty]

I just finished up burning some midnight oil again getting my front marker lenses sanded and polished. Went through the same steps as the others and they turned out fantastic!!!!

Before...

Sanded to 400 grit dry...

After 5000 grit...

Polished....

 

[mr evil]

I just finished up burning some midnight oil again getting my front marker lenses sanded and polished. Went through the same steps as the others and they turned out fantastic!!!!

Before...View attachment 71135

Sanded to 400 grit dry...View attachment 71136

After 5000 grit...View attachment 71137

Polished....View attachment 71138 View attachment 71139

Holy sh*t that last pic really shows it! Wow, that has to be better than new!

 

[Injectedcutty]

Holy sh*t that last pic really shows it! Wow, that has to be better than new!

Lol thanks man! The fronts were in a bit better shape than the rear marker lenses and shined up accordingly.

Now I just have to get my other headlight cleaned up and reassembled and all of the exterior lights will be finished!!!

 

[Injectedcutty]

I've been at it again today boys! The last time I tried painting the trim on my quarter windows the SEM didn't stick! Their directions said promoter wasn't necessary for metal.....bunch of bull that was! So I got pissed, wiped the paint off and put them up before throwing 'em across my yard!!!!

I got them back out this morning. Rescuffed the trim with 320, then the 3m sanding sponge. I wiped them down really good, taped them up, wiped them down a couple more times and got to it.

I needed some reassurance, so I got ahold of Donovan and he suggested using self etch primer instead of adhesion promoter since the trim is metal. I've gotta say, that guy knows his s$*t because I laid down a few coats of self etch and I could tell it was going to stick this time!

Next, I sprayed several coats of the SEM trim black and they turned out WAY better this time around!

I waited a few minutes for it to flash, then got to untaping to reveal the windows I expected to have awhile back! Now they will match the trim, have the GN look, and not stick out like a sore thumb!!!

Woohoo, another piece checked off the "to do" list !!!!! Thanks again Donovan for the experienced tip, much appreciated!

 

[Longroof79]

Scott,
I was getting ready to suggest using self etching primer, but see that you got your answer from Mr. Donovan ..The quarter window frames came out nice, and so did your marker lights.
I also had success using SEM Trim Black and self etching primer on my window frames.
Mr. Riddler does know his sh*t, doesn't he?😀